Monday, October 19, 2009

The City of Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) has set up an exhibit chronicling the 50 years of Stone Belt history in the City Hall atrium.

Stone Belt was established in 1959 as a community resource, and has since grown to provide such programs as residential and employment services, advocacy, the Art & Craft division, and the generous Hand in Hand project.

The exhibit will run until the end of October. The City Hall atrium is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

How can my kid succeed in school? What parents and teachers can do to conquer learning problems is written by Craig Pohlman, PhD, an administrator and article author who has conducted several thousand assessments of young children with learning difficulties. The book is organized into three sections, each a "progressive stage in developing and understanding" the needs of individual students. Part one focuses on home life, part two on school, and part three on the interaction with developmental professionals. As a whole, the book will be particularly useful for parents and teachers of students with learning disabilities.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Organizing the disorganized child: Simple strategies to succeed in school is written by Martin L Kutscher, pediatrician, and Marcella Moran, a licensed psychotherapist and educational consultant. The book begins with an explanation of "how my kid [got] into this mess" (key: the natural development of the frontal lobe), the role of the parent and tips on how to approach your child about the subject. The following chapters provide guidelines to being proactive in creating an organization system in a positive, supportive manner: setting up supplies, tracking multiple classes and teachers, making calendars, establishing morning and nighttime routines, visually organizing school notes, etc. Though aimed at the general populace, this book is especially useful for children with AD/HD and related disorders.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Last week, a copper statue of the young Helen Keller was unveiled at the Capitol building. Keller is depicted with the famous water pump where her teacher, Anne Sullivan, made the breakthrough connection between words and reality.

The statue was was proposed by Sen. Riley of Alabama as a replacement for the one of Jabez Curry. It was sculpted by artist Edward Hlavka of Utah and is the first statue in the Capitol to depict a child.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Activities for adults with learning disabilities: Having fun, meeting needs by Helen Sonnet and Ann Taylor provides "over 60 sessions of fun and engaging activities." Each activity is ranked by level of assistance required, accessibility, volume of noise, messiness, and reading skill, for tailoring to individual participant needs. The book is divided into categories of cooking (cookies, fruit punch), arts & crafts (calenders, photo frames), games (picture bingo, netball), special occasions (Valentine quiz, fancy-dress walk), drama and dance (talent show, country dance), and outside events (barbecues, local walks). The activities are based on the authors' experience in the UK-based MENCAP Gateway Club and are perfect for use in group homes and day centers.

Monday, October 5, 2009

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! CeDIR has many materials for support professionals, employers, and persons with disabilities with advice on how to find and create an inclusive workplace. Our newest additions include:

Friday, October 2, 2009

Authentic dialogue with persons who are developmentally disabled: sad without tears by Jennifer Hill dissembles the misconception that persons with developmental disabilities are incapable of engaging in "authentic dialogue" about emotional issues. Hill, a psychotherapist, chronicles the progress of members of her therapy group as they discuss "sorrow, grief, jealousy and joy." The book is eye-opening for professionals and family members alike.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Key issues in special education needs and inclusion is a comprehensive textbook for students studying the field of Education. Written by Alan Hodkinson and Philip Vickerman, the book focuses on the recent development of care for children with Special Education Needs (SEN): the legalities, the politics, and the practice.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Dyslexia and employment: a guide for assessors, trainers and managers is edited by Dr. Sylvia Moody, a psychologist specializing in adult dyslexia. The book is advertised as a "jargon-free guide" which addresses the tricky aspects of managing employees with learning disabilities. The authors present on legalities, HR and trades-union perspectives, and specific disability-related issues in the workplace.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Until very recently, restoring vision through artificial prosthesis seemed like a fantasy reserved for Star Trek characters. In the 1990s, researchers began to make the fantasy a reality: various methods were devised to allow persons with visual impairments to achieve some degree of sight, through implanted electrodes, microchips and cameras that stimulate receptor cells.

The latest advancement comes from Doctors Weiland and Humayun of the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California. The scientists and their team have developed and tested a "microelectronic implant" that has successfully allowed individuals to identify simple objects (for example, differentiate between a cup and a plate) and discern the direction of motion. The authors hope to continue their studies to improve sight resolution, enable face recognition, limit the risks of infection, and address other practical concerns.

To learn more about the human eye and implants, you can read Weiland and Humayun's paper here. For more information on visual impairments, check out these resources held at the CeDIR library:

Monday, September 28, 2009

The City of Bloomington’s Council for Community Accessibility (CCA) is soliciting nominations for its annual awards ceremony that will recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the community more accessible for people with disabilities.The CCA advocates on behalf of people with disabilities, promotes awareness of the challenges faced by those with disabilities, and works to develop solutions to problems of accessibility. The Council meets monthly at City Hall.

Award categories include:• Kristin Willison Volunteer Service Award• Business Service Award• Professional and Community Service Award• Housing service Award• Self-Advocacy Award• Mayor’s Award

Nomination forms are available in the Community and Family Resources Department, City Hall, 401 North Morton Street, Suite 260 and online at www.bloomington.in.gov/cfrd. Nomination must be returned by October 2, 2009. For more information, contact Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, at (812) 349-3471 or e-mail brennerc@bloomington.in.gov.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The New York Times has run an extensive interactive feature called Patient Voices interviewing six individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder. These individuals come from all walks of life and give illuminating insight into what it's like to live with OCD.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Through the same door: inclusion includes college is a DVD aimed at young people with disabilities aiming for post-secondary education. The video follows Micah, a young man with a cognitive impairment, as he enters Oakland University and lives the college life of classes, student organizations, and volunteer opportunities. Micah has written several articles and is a national speaker on inclusion in public schools. See his accomplishments here.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

From Monday, October 5th to Saturday the 10th, the Mental Health America of Monroe County will promote mental well-being through the 4th Annual Art of Mental Health event. The week will consist of talks, public screening, and an ongoing art exhibit at the Monroe County Library. Lecturers include Dr. Natalie Blevins from the IU School of Medicine, actress/singer Meera Popkin-Tarack, and representatives from Centerstone, Milestones, and Oak Tree Counseling.

The event will culminate with a benefit dance on Saturday, 7:30 pm at the Bloomington Convention Center. Craig Brenner & the Crawdads will provide live music, and Bloomington's finest local music will provide desserts. Tickets are $15, available at the Busirk-Chumley ticket office.

Monday, September 21, 2009

This Friday, the IU School of Education will host a presentation by Bruce R. Baker, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, entitled "Core Vocabulary as an Effective Tool for Teaching Curriculum content: High Frequency Vocabulary, Language Learning, and Communicative Competence." His talk will focus on "how to involve students who use AAC in classroom interactions in a way that is enriching to all."

Baker is the President/CEO of Semantic Compaction Systems, which developed the Minspeak language representation technology now used internationally in eight different languages. He has won several awards for design and service, notably from United Cerebral Palsy and the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

The talk will be held in room R2277 (the Alumni Room) from 1 to 3 pm. For more information, contact Erna Alant at ealant@indiana.edu.